Mechanism for making sound-records.



7 J. 0. PRESCOTT. MECHANISM FOR MAKING SOUND RECORDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.15, 1907.

} INVENTOR PATENTED MAR. i9, 190?.

' ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT orrroa.

JOHN 0. PRESCOTT, or solemn-NEW JERSEY. MECHANISM FOI'R MAKING SOUND-R-EGORD$- I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March. 19, 1907;

Application filed J annary 15, 1907- Brandi 61862363.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN O. PREsoo'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Summit, .in the county. of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Making Sound-Records, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for making sound-records of the disk type for use with talking-machines by pressing aplastic composition upon a sultable matrix to form a disk having a spiral sound-record groove in one or both of its faces corresponding to the spiral projection on the matrix.

a The object of the invention is to effect certain improvements in the construction of the mechanism for performing the pressing operation, by means of which improved apparatus the records may be manufactured more rapidly and at a materially-reduced cost.

Sound-records of the disk type. as now commonly constructed have the recordgroove formed on one or both faces adjacent the periphery, and the central portion of the disk is of less thickness than the portion having the groove therein. This central portion need not be of the greater thickness in order to give the requisite strength, and a saving of material is thus 'efiected, and the shallow depression at the center of the disk may receive a label suitably marked with the name of the opening is cut in its center of a diameter butlittle less than that of the inner convolution recorded sound and such other matter as is desired. My improved pressing mechanism is adapted for forming this depression at. the center of the disk during the operation of forming the disk with the record-groove therein without the provision and manipulation of additional parts, and hence Without consuming additional time. To this end a matrix of annular form is employed. Either it is originally made of this form or a circular of the spiral ridge for forming the recordgroove. Either one or each of the pressing members is provided with an annular depression in which the annular matrix fits snugly. the pressing member is provided with a flange bounding the outer edge of the depression and a central circular raised portion or projection, and this central projection is made of a height slightly reater than the thickness of the matrix. The matrix thus formed is olaced'in the annular depression in To form this annular depression,.

the (pressing member with the projection exten ing through its central opening and beond its surface, and the'plastic composition is pressed down upon it and the top of the projection and between the outer Wall or flange and a central stud. The second pressing member may'have a plane surface or both members may be somewhat similarly formed when it is desired to make a disk having a record-groove in both faces. A depression is thus formed in one or each of the faces of the record corresponding in size and depth to the portion of the projection extending beyond the surface of the matrix. j

t is sometimes desired to provide soundreeords with an opening in or'through the central portion in addition to the central 0 ening to receivea stud on the turn-table oi the talking-machine. In accordance with my invention I provide means for positioning a stud upon 'one of the pressing members in any one of a plurality of positions varying in distance from the center. Studs of varying shapes may be employed to give the desired shape of opening in the disk, and the openings for receivin the securing means for the studs may be c osed when not in use,

so that the material will not enter therein.

I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 isa central section of the pressing.

mechanism. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, broken away in part; and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views showing modifications. Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the lower pressing member, consisting of a metallic platehav ng a circular flange 2 integral therewith. At the center of the member is a stud 3 for forming the central opening in the record and for centering the upper pressing member 4. v Around the stud 3 is a circular raised portion or projection 5, integral with member 1 and forming between it and the flange 2 an annular groove to receive the annular matrix 6. The projection 5 is of'greater height than the thickness of the matrix 6, the difference being equal to the depth of the depression to be formed at the center of the record. The matrix is either originally formed of annular shape or, if of disk form, a circular piece is punched out at the center, so that it will fitsnugly in the annular groove in the member 1 its inner edge thereby abutting the wall of the rojection 5 and its outer edge similarly a utround one shown ate in 19 equal to the thickness of center thereof. Any one ormore of the will be so erated b the amount required to give the esired thickness of the record.

in order to form the 0 ening in the can: .trai portion the digk ad itiorgal to the ceritra o ening, rovi e in men; er in plurait ol -threede stud 8 on the top or the rojection 5. This stud m be oiany desire shape, suches the oblong stud shown. inFigs. 1 and. 2.01 the 3. Its height h e record atthe V openings not in use may be closed by a screw as indicated at 14, Fig. 1.

10, inserted in the opening with its end flush with the surface of the projection 5. "Any number of openings for screws 7 maybe pro-- vided, as shown in Fig. 3.

With the mechanism thus constructed, a stud 8 is selected with reference tothe shape of opening it is desired to form in the record and secured in the desired position by a screw -'7, the other openings for the screws 7 being closed by screws i0. The matrix is then positioned on the ressin member 1 about the rojection 5. f a la el is to be afiixed to t c record, this is preferably circular and of the same diameter as the projection 5 and has openings therein for the studs 3 and 8. The label is laid upon the top. of projection 5 with the studs passing througli the openin s, A charge of t e lastic composition sufficient for one record is then placed upon the matrix and the memher 4 lowered over the stud 3. Pressure is then brought to bear upon the two members 1' and 4 by a suitable pressing-machineto press them together and cause the com osition to spread into and fill all parts 0' the space between the two members. This having been done and the coniposition having hardened, the. member 4 is raised and the record removed. The record thus formed bears on one face a spiral groove correspond ing to the ridge on the matrix, and at its center is a shall0w circular depression in which a label issecured. In the central portion the record has a central 0 ening formed by stud 3 and also an opening is laced from the center and of asiae and siiape determined by the shape of. the stud 8 and the position in which it was mt'iunted.-

If it is. desired to press records having record-grooves on both faces thereof, the upper pressing member may be formed somewhat similar to the lower one to provide an annular depression in which a second annular matrix is received and a central projecw I openin gs, into any one of. is oh a screw-Z may beinserted to secure aeeneso tion of a hei ht slightly renter than the thickness of t e matrix. uch a construction is shown in Fig. 4, in which it indicates the upper pressing member, 12 the second annular matrix lying therein, and 13 the pro jection for forming a shallow depression in the upper face of the record just as the procction 5 forms a similar depression in the lower face.

Having nowdescribed my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is es follows:

1. Mechanism for making sound-records compgising the combination of a pressing mom or having an annular groove therein, an annular matrix lying in said groove, a central pro'ection on said member of greater height t an the thickness of said matrix, its side wall forming the inner wall of said annular groove, and a second pressing member for pressing the composition against said matrix and the to of said projection, substantially as set fort 1.

2. Mechanism for making sound-records comprising the combination of a pressing member having an annular groovetherein, an annular matrix lying in said groove, a con'' centric projection integral with said pressing member and of greater height than tire-thickness of said matrix, its side wallzi or mog the inner wall of said annular groove, and a second pressing member for pressmg thcioomposition against said matrix and'theton or said projection, substantially asset forth.

3. Mechanism for making consid rs/cords comprising the combination of pressing member having an annulergroors therein, an integral circular flange whose inner wall forms the outer-wall of said grootc, a circular concentric projection integral with said pressing member and of'greatcr height than the thickness of said matrix, its side wall forming the inner wallet said annular groove, a central stud on said member, and a second pressing member having a central opening therein to receive said stud adapted for pressing the composition against said matrix and the top of said projection, substantially as set forth.

i. Mechanism. for making sound-records comprising the combination of two pressing members one having a central stud and the other a correspondmg'opemngand each of said members ,havmg an annular groove therein, an annular matrix lying in each of said grooves, aciroular projection on each oi' said members of greater height than the thickness of the matrix in the groove therein, the side wall of each projection forming the inner wall of one of the annular grooves, and a circular flange on one of the pressing members bounding the annular groove therein and against which the other member abuts. when the two members are pressed together to form a record, substantial y as set forth.

5, Mechanism for making sound-records comprlsing the combination of a pressing member having an annular groove therein, an annular matrix 1n said groove, a pro ection on said member concentric with said groove, its side wall formin the inner wall of said groove, astud mounts on the top of said projection, and a second pressing member for pressing the composition against said matrix and thetop of said projection, substantially as set forth.

6. Mechanism for making sound-records comprising the combination of a pressing member having a circular flange thereon, amatrix upon said member within said flan e, a second pressing member for pressing t e composition against said matrix, a stud, and

, means for securing said stud in various positime upon one of ,said members, substantially as set forth,

, 7. Mechanism for making sound-records.

comprising the combination of a pressing member having a circulanflange thereon, a matrix upon said member within said flange, a second ,pressing member for pressing the composition against said matrix, a stud, a

plurality of openings in one of said members,

me'ansooactingwith an one of said 0 enmgs for securing the stu upon the mem er and means for closing the other openings,

substantially asset forth.

8. Mechanism for making sound-records comprising the combination of a pressing member having an annular groove therein, a

circular flange thereon forming the outer wall of said groove, an annular'fnetrix lying in said groove, a circular concentric projection integral with said member and of a height greater than the thickness of send matrix, its side wall forming the inner wall of said groove, a stud, means for'securin'g the same in'an one of a plurality of positions on 

